The World Show January 2017by Ghalib Al-Nasser, COM-UK Publicity Officer

Once again many of our British fanciers descended in late
January on Almeria in southern Spain to attend the 65th World
Show organised by the Spanish Federation on behalf of the legislative World
organisation Confederation Ornithologique Mondiale (COM) which was formed in
1952.

COM structure has two executive
committees each consisting of seven members; the COM Board of Directors and
the judges’ committee called the Ordre Mondial Des Juges OMJ. Each committee
has its own president, vice president, secretary and members of the board.
The affiliated countries are divided into two groups A & B depending on the
size of their show team at the World Show and the number of OMJ judges that
they have. Our country is sadly in the B group.

Every year there will be some
elections to both executive committees at their individual congresses
(Annual General Meetings) and this year was no exception. At the COM
Congress the Lebanese Ornithological Federation was welcomed as the new
member to COM.

The Saturday evening is the Gala
Dinner and the flag & medal presentation with over 400 fanciers and partners
attending the evening. This is unique to COM as fanciers attending from each
country are called to the stage to be presented with their national flag
while their national anthem is being played. This year we had 13 British
fanciers attending and we all went up to the stage to sing God Save the
Queen while our national anthem was playing. It is always so wonderful to be
part of the family of nations sitting together and enjoying each other’s
company.

The UK Team Sing The National
Anthem

If one needs to pay tribute then
it will go to the conveyors from those countries who are benching birds as
they will take 2 weeks of their time to drive their countries teams to the
show venue and then spend every day stewarding by feeding and watering a
section of the show birds that are allocated to them and do all the
necessary stewarding jobs. It is a thankless task but they do it for the
love of the hobby and we need to pay great gratitude to them for carrying
this task on our behalf.

Our conveyors this year were
Richard Lumley, our COM-UK vice president, together with the Irish conveyor
Peter Sherlock took our team on Wednesday crossing from Portsmouth to Caen
in France then driving to the show hall in Spain of 1380 km to stage the two
show teams by Friday for judging to commence by Monday. They were joined
then by our second conveyor our COM-UK president Chris Smith who flew to
Almeria. Simon Tammam, COM-UK Secretary, also joined the team of conveyors.
As always they do a great job in taking the teams and bring them back safely
with more medals than in previous years. Our sincere thanks and gratitude
are extended to them for a grand job well done. Our stand was the centre
point of gathering for all the British fanciers who attended the show.

Richard Lumley, Ghalib &
Marie-Claire Tarnus, Secretary of COM

The show attracted a total entry
of 25,953 from 3,124 exhibitors representing 22 countries. COM-UK had an
increase in entry from last year’s team with 229 birds (186 in 2016) from 39
exhibitors (33 in 2016) and came back home with 27 medals (22 in 2016)
making it a record of medals won since COM-UK was formed in 2011 with 14
golds, 8 silvers and 5 bronze medals. It was indeed a great achievement for
our team and hope that we can better it in the future if British fanciers
give us their support and backing.

Fanciers always question the
length of time the birds are away from their premises and in show cages but
despite that time the birds are away (usually 2 weeks from the time they
leave the exhibitors’ home till their return) they are well looked after by
being fed and watered daily during their presence at the show and always
come back healthy and eager to breed. But it is all about the atmosphere at
the show and the camaraderie between the fanciers who are attending from all
over the world and the friendship is next to none. Each country is supplied
with its own stand to decorate as it wishes and it is the focal point for
those fanciers from that country to meet.

This year’s show had 118 judges
invited from 17 countries from Europe, North Africa and South America but
missed out on supplying a judge from COM-UK as it is not our turn to do so.
The show operates on the 2 year owner bred breeder classes with one status
of exhibitor for most varieties but for the canary section it is only 1 year
rung birds can be shown.

Our medal winners from COM-UK
team can be summarised in the table below:

Exhibitor

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Ghalib
Al-Nasser

4

1

5

Geoff White

1

2

1

4

Bernard
Howlett

3

3

Saviour
Camilleri

1

2

3

Stephen
Cowling

1

1

2

Christopher
Driver

1

1

2

Mick King

2

2

Maurice
O’Connor

1

1

2

Simon Tammam

1

1

2

Graham
Bradbrook

1

1

Les Evans

1

1

Total

14

8

5

27

The medals are like the Olympics
where the winner gets the gold, the second gets the silver and the third
gets the bronze. The show is judged on the points system and the bird must
achieve over 90 points to be eligible for winning a medal. For example if
the bird wins 95 points (the highest points a bird can achieve) then it will
win the gold, the second can get 94 or 93 points so it will win the silver
and the third can get 92 or 91 points so it will win the bronze. If the
class winner wins 90 points then the bird will win the gold medal but as the
second bird in the class win 89 or 88 points then there will be no medals
for them. If the class winner gains 89 points only then there will be no
medals allocated for that class as it happened with one of my birds this
year.

One of the highlights for COM-UK
was that Ian Wright from Stockton on Tees,
County Durham took his judges test at the show in Section E (Posture
Canary) and passed making our strength now as 11 judges on COM-OMJ Judges
Panel. Ian specialises in Glosters and Crests and is a member of the IBGA
and is a panel judge since 2001. He shows in partnership with his father
Robert who in turn was in partnership with his father Les previously and
used to show at the old National of Cage & Aviary Birds. Ian has bred Fifes
since the age of 12 years and won best novice canary at 1993 National with a
Buff Green Fife Fancy hen.

Ian commented that the test day
was long but quite challenging and was glad that he took the test and
passed. It tested his knowledge and he had to prepare a lot for it by
reading the standards and rules of COM/OMJ and going to different COM shows
in Europe to learn the standard and method of judging by the points system
for the 24 different types of canaries that one needs to identify. Ian had
to travel to many places both home and in Europe to identify the various
varieties and learn about them ready for the test. Ian commented that
studying for his preparation for the test made him think more about other
breeds and he feel that he is more generally informed now. He encourages
more British judges to consider becoming COM-OMJ judges by taking the test.

Ian Wright

Ron Pearce, Ghalib
Al-Nasser & Grant Findlay at the Gala Evening

The second highlight was that
Ghalib Al-Nasser was presented with his COM-OMJ silver judge’s badge
for being an OMJ judge for 10 years since he passed his test in 2007
in the I-section (budgerigars).

The third highlight was the
introduction of the London Canary Fancy on the show bench at COM as
an assessment class as a new breed and our COM-UK supplied 12 birds
(a stam and 8 singles) by Bernard Howlett but there is a lot of work
need to be done on this variety for it to be accepted by COM mainly
because too much variegation in the bird

Bernard Howlett

Chris Smith, COM-UK President and
the second conveyor had this to say “Very much enjoyed the event as a
conveyor and helped in setting up the show by booking in Team COM-UK and
putting labels on cages and stewarding for judges. Very pleased for Ian
Wright who passed his OMJ test. The event is long and very tiring but very
enjoyable and rewarding. I entered 3 Hoses, 2 Fifes and 1 Irish but
disappointing in achieving only 90 points but there is always next year”.

Richard Lumley, our chiefhardworkingconveyor and COM-UK Vice President, said that this was his 8th
year as a conveyor and he usually collect the team from the north and drive
to Gary Mann in Dorset then with Gary’s help they take the team to the vet
for the health certificate and then cage them up and set for the long trip
of nearly 2300 km with his Irish counterpart. He had many positive comments
about the organisation and how good the Spanish team was. He was impressed
with the hall and the layout and how well the lighting was with two glass
walls either side of the hall. The standard of the birds was very high.

I know that I speak for all
exhibitors in how grateful and thankful we all are to Richard for his effort
in this long drive to the world show every year sharing the trip with Peter
Sherlock, the Irish conveyor.

Gary Mann, one of our previous
conveyors since 2011 and show coordinator, was happy to make the long
journey to visit the show and see old friends. He was pleased to compete at
the very high level and has attended more than 30 World Shows and they are
going from strength to strength.

Simon Tammam, COM-UK Secretary
and show coordinator had this to say “I was quite please that after a very
slow start, lots of entries came in and we reach a total of 229 birds from
39 exhibitors. This was a record entry for COM UK and we are getting closer
to equalling the record held by COM GB. Another record broken is the number
of medals won by Team UK; 27 medals, 5 more than 2016 to include gold for
colour canaries, the first for over 18 years. All in all it was a great show
for Team UK, and I am proud to have been part of it, as part of the
conveyors team, and as one of the medal winners, a silver (92 points) for a
clear Fiorino crested hen in a class of 19 birds and a bronze (91 points)
with a blue Fiorino Plainhead in a class of 24 birds, the other two Fiorino
gained 89 and 90 points while my only Border entered was placed 5th with 90
points in a class of 13 birds. The venue was great, probably one of the
best, with excellent lighting and lots of space.

Simon Tammam

I was engaged with the
presentation of the London Fancy for the first trial for acceptance to the
COM, and although 4 of the 12 birds presented gained 93, 92 and 91 points, 2
gained 89 and 88 points, the rest of the birds were far below the standard
ending with a negative result, I am confident that we will have a positive
one next year in Italy”.

Ghalib Al-Nasser, COM-UK
Publicity Officer, was very delighted with the overall team win and hope
that this is a new beginning for Team COM-UK. He was still very pleased to
be among the winners as he has won gold medals in the past 4 shows in the
budgerigar section. Ghalib shares his wins of 4 gold and 1 bronze medals
with his wife and exhibition partner Janice but under COM rules partnerships
are not permitted.

Janice & Ghalib Al-Nasser

It was Chris Driver first time
showing at the World Show and he made history in winning a gold medal in the
Coloured Canary section; first time in about 18 years. He was over the moon
with his win and the gold medal with a 91pts- Intensive Yellow Lipochrome
White Wings Cock and a silver medal with a 91pts - Intensive Yellow Ivory
Lipochrome White Wings Hen. This is a great encouragement for other fanciers
to show their Colour Canaries.

Chris Driver

Graham Bradbrook, a Fife canary
breeder, was also very happy with gold medal that he won with a lightly
variegated Yellow Fife hen. He entered 2 birds only and won gold with one.
This was his 5th time showing at the World Show and the best
result with a gold medal. He commented that the standard of the birds is
very high and the venue was very good.

Graham Bradbrook

Geoff White was very pleased with
his 4 medals of 1 gold, 2 silvers and 1 bronze medal although it did not
match his wins of 3 golds and 4 silvers of last year in the Irish Fancy
section. This was his 3rd World Show and it was worth the long
trip down to attend He commented on how well the show was run in a great
hall and wonderful atmosphere.

Geoff White

Alan Robinson, a COM-UK committee
member, also commented on how excellent the show hall was with good quality
birds that were well looked after.

Dave Allen who just missed on a
bronze medal again was still very pleased with his results in the Blue
Lizard section. He was very pleased to see many U.K. exhibitors at this
great show.

Another exhibitor who did well
was Saviour Camilleri winning 1 gold and 2 silver medal. His gold and silver
medals were in the same class of Norwich Light Variegated cocks. He also
obtained silver in the Stam of 4 Norwich Yellow hens. This stam obtained
gold at the Gouden Ring show in Belgium in the previous month. He commented
on how well the show was and the quality of birds benched. He was very
pleased with his wins and this is the second time that he won a medal in the
Norwich section at a World show.

Saviour Camilleri

Bernard Howlett is always among
the winners at World shows and this year his team came back with 3 gold
medals. He entered 4 blackbirds and 4 Song Thrushes with and picked up golds
with Cinnamon Blackbird, Normal Song Thrush and Cinnamon Song Thrush.
Bernard also presented the London Canary Fancy for the first time for
assessment as a new breed. He entered a stam and 8 singles but failed to be
accepted on this occasion by the judges as they felt that there was too much
variegation in some of the birds but a further attempt for recognition will
be made next year.

Silver Badge - R. Lumley, C.
Ramoa, Ghalib, C. Smith, S. Tammam

Dave Cottrell, past President of
the Budgerigar Society, attended the show with his wife Fran and it was over
20 years ago when he attended his last World Shows in Holland and France
with the late photographer Dennis Avon on behalf of Cage & Aviary Birds. He
commented “I was amazed at the time to see in excess of 200 Red Factor
canaries in one class so made sure I visited the section in Almeria. I was
very impressed in the quality of the first stam class with 130+ teams of 4
in a single class; over 520 birds; quite a sight. I have been interested in
European birds for over 40 years so spent a couple of hours viewing an
impressive group of quality birds; many not seen on the show bench in the
UK. To see 50+ Goldfinches is indeed a rare event.

Although the next event is in
Italy; which may be a bit far for many UK fanciers; advance preparations are
in hand for the January 2019 event that will be held in Zutphen in Holland.
This is easily accessible to UK fanciers so why not start planning now;
nearly 2 years to save up for a memorable weekend viewing in excess of
20,000 quality show birds”.

COM-UK extended its
congratulations to all exhibitors from the UK for participating at this
unique event and those who attended this event are already planning their
trip to next year’s World Show in Cesena, Italy from 19th to 21st
January 2018 so our usual appeal is for more exhibitors and more birds for
next year’s event please. For more information and photos about the show
visit
www.comuk.co.uk